WACR: BlogTalkRadio: The History and Tradition of Christmas Trees.When, where and who began the tradition of the beautifully decorated trees in our homes and what is its significance. How many of you know? Listen to Nick and Eva on Wednesday, December 10th, at 7:30 PM (EST). Call TOLL-FREE (323) 792 2931 to listen or comment. We look forward to hearing from you. This show is sponsored by A Few Good Books Publishing.

Christmas (Christian Mass) is an increasingly popular annual religious tradition of the nativity, which is the commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ and his legacy of joy of enlightenment, peace on earth, freedom, civility, and unity of all mankind. This custom is celebrated with exchange of gifts, sharing of stories and musical cantata, as well as displays and decorations such asChristmas trees. Christmas has become the largest annual economic stimulus for many nations around the world. Sales increase dramatically in almost all retail areas and shops introduce new products as people purchase gifts, decorations, and supplies. There are approximately 400 million Christians in Africa who celebrate the Christmas tradition. Although plastic trees and inflatable Santa Claus were popular in Africa, new wealth effect, new level of sophistication, explosion of Christian growth and the influx of foreigners are creating a boom in Christmas tree sales. Few years ago, Burundi's government banned cutting down of trees to be used for Christmas festivities. The country claimed it had lost enough of its forest cover and could not afford any more trees to be cut down. Join us as we explore the pros and cons in the business and recycling of Christmas trees in Africa. Host: Ernest K. Opong Contributor: Wasiu Alade Producer: Wale Ajibade

University of Florida/Leon County Stan Rosenthal joined Ms. Grow-It-All, aka Master Gardener Audrey Post, for a discussion about Christmas trees: different kinds of trees, how to care for your Christmas tree and tree safety.

Spears on Sports: Episode 25 Syracuse Basketball Postgame (UVA recap/NC State preview). The final home game in Rakeem Christmas career is discussed, with a review of the UVA game. Thoughts on Raks night, the new uniforms, and other notes as well. Finally, a preview of Syracuse Final game of the year. NC State in Raleigh.

Bruce "Mad Dog" Levine is a major guru of stick, having tested and written for Tennis Magazine, Tennis.com, and a bunch of other places. You should listen to him, people trust him.

"Wild" Bill Patton has tested frames for Inside Tennis and has only recently stopped having the feelings of Christmas gifts and the desire to jump around in the living room upon receiving them. The realization has set in, that the racquets will need to be strung.

New York City based Comedian Nancy Lombardo host a cornucopia of terrific guests. Mixing it up with comedians, authors, musicians, professionals. Nancy Lombardo has performed her unique comedy from coast to coast. "COLOR ME CRAZY" MARY CHRISTMAS AND MOMEDY AVAILABLE ON CD BABY. Watch the NANCY LOMBARDO SHOW Fridays 7pm EST www.mnn.org or in NYC channel 83 RCN 56 TW 34 Fios. Follow Comedy Concepts on Blog Talk Radio. SUPPORT THE ARTS BY SUPPORTING THE ARTS...BUY STUFF! http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/NancyLombardo bring it! Now available for public consumption.

Todays featured artist is Anatomy Bousculaire with the release of their new album "Inside Interior" on March 1, 2015. The rock sound and powerful group today mixture to electro prog psyche. A perfect album to dance, let go, race, touching, flare, roll in the mud and tell stories After a first eponymous album, more than 200 concerts on 3 continents, and Los Angeles Music Award *, the electro-rock trio from Paris, 2 girls and 1 boy, continues to play all the codes. * "Best Artist of the Year" in the category grunge, a prestigious award given in the past to No Doubt, System of a Down, Korn, Alien Ant Farm, Slash and the Black Eyed Peas ... Antaomie Bousculaire cover photos curtesy Marie Magin. www.anatomiebousculaire.com

So this is the first episode of what I hope will turn into an ongong "discussion". I created this interactive show for all of you to be able to join in and share the love I have for dogs of all sorts and how much they have affected my life. This forum is for anyone who may want dog training advice, human training advice (hahaha) and questions, comments and concerns for just about anything to do with this insanity that I now live in. These will be LIVE, 1 hour shows, every Saturday night. You can call in and talk to me personally and we will even have guests from time to time. But be forewarned....this is the raw and uncensored version of Tia Torres.....so if you can't deal with an occasional "F" bomb or find it religiously offensive if I use "Xmas" as opposed to "Christmas"....probably not the place for you to hang out.

This Barbadian daughter is a mother of two, a forensic scientist and is asilver and bronze award winner in Photography (2009) at the NationalIndependence Festival of Creative Arts (NIFCA).An Honours Graduate in Chemistry from UWI Cave Hill Campus, in 1989Cher gained the position of being the first Forensic Scientist in Barbadoshaving achieved her Masters in Forensic Science from Kings College,University of London. She has since had a long and rewarding career inthe field and is presently the Director of the Forensic Sciences Centre,Office of the Attorney General.Cher prides herself in being both left and right brained and demonstratesher creativity as an artist in many different areas. In 2011 she added to herawards by receiving two silver medals in the Literary Arts at NIFCA for herprose pieces "INTERVENTION" and "THE PINK SLIP". The latter alsowon her the Incentive Award for the Most Promising Adult Prose Piece.She was awarded a bronze in 2012 with “THE ANNUAL CHRISTMASCUSS-OUT” and in the Fine Arts category another bronze for herWatercolour “BRIDGE AT THE HOLE”. In 2013 her Acrylic painting“GEM OF SPEIGHTSTOWN” was awarded a Bronze award.Cher’s works have been published in St. Somewhere Online LiteraryJournal, Blackberry:The Magazine, and in four anthologies – BambooPress –‘She Sex’, The National Cultural Foundation’s – ‘WinningWords’, “She Speaks – Woman’s Journal” and ‘Senseisha’ – AnAnthology on the sensuality of the Barbadian Woman. She is presentlyworking on two novellas, “SILVERED MIRRORS” and “THE PINKSLIP”.

Renee has served her country in the U.S. Army and is a Persian Gulf War Veteran. Her wartime experience led her to a place of darkness and depression. She often says that she was, "Walking around dead and depressed for years and didn't know it."

God has allowed Renee to undergo various trials and tribulations to demonstrate to her that He is a God that heals, delivers, redeems and sets free. By being placed on the “Potter’s Wheel,” God continues to mold Renee into a vessel that brings Him glory and honor through her life and ministry.

Renee is Certified Spirit-led Christian HIScoach™, Inspirational Speaker-Teacher, Writer, Makeup Artist, and licensed Cosmetologist. Yielding to the process and bringing together her passion and experience in Makeup Artistry, as well as her love for encouraging and teaching women to live a life of peace, has enabled Renee to birth Combat Boots to Makeup Brushes™.

As Founder and CEO of Combat Boots to Makeup Brushes™, Renee has a burning desire to help women veterans, who have experienced trauma, live a life of peace and balance. She believes that by being a personal cheerleader and equipping them with a Christ-centered plan on overcoming emotional scares, these women can exchange their ashes for beauty.

Not only is she the CEO of Combat Boots to Makeup Brushes™, Renee is married to Brannon Doughty. They have a wonderful blended family of 7 beautiful children, (4 boys and 3 girls). They range from the ages of 2-19 years.

“To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified”(Isaiah 61:3 NKJV)

Today my guest is Dolores Manzanares, who will share her experiences working with bands in California

Dolores Manzanare's Bio

1951 - 1960: Began singing in church choir, school chorus in grade school, middle school and high school.

1960 - 1965 Joined a band and we played mostly Rock and Oldies But Goodies (5 years)

1965 - 1975 Took a break and raised a family.

1975 - 1990 Returned to college, took singing classes, and formed a band of my own, "The 2002 Band." I studied to become an educator and worked on week-ends with my band. I was the lead singer and we played throughout Southern California for various groups and organizations, fund-raisers, weddings, anniversaries, birthday parties, hospital Christmas parties, New Year's Parties, and played for the Arthur Murray Dance Studios.

We played all genres of music from Oldies to Swing, ballads, latin music, polkas, tangos, waltzes, fox trot, rock and disco.

I was able to juggle raising my two boys, attending college, graduated in 1981 with my Bachelor's and a Teaching Credential in Bilingual Education, then, my Master's Degree, also in Bilingual Education in 1988. I continued to perform with my band until 1990, at which time, I felt I needed to just focus on my teaching career. I totaled 20 years as a vocalist and musical percussionist. I thoroughly enjoyed entertaining groups and organizations throughout Southern California.

I must say that Teaching and a Musical Career were two very rewarding careers for me. I was able to sing on television, radio, and record at a recording studio, at age 21. Those were exciting times for me.

You get to hear a 20 to 25 minute reading of a book I originally, or loosely based, wrote. Today, the book is Scrooge's Perfect Christmas. This happens to be one of my favorites; partially because this is my first Christmas book to write. Come and find out if Scrooge gets her Perfect Christmas.